Astrologers do their number for rain-casts

Laugh at Met forecasts, but steer clear of predictions

Astrologers do their number for rain-casts

Laugh at Met forecasts, but steer clear of predictions

Met prediction for July 4, 5: Heavy to very heavy rainfall; CM Ashok Chavan appeals Mumbaikars to remain indoors
Reality: Dry spell on July 5

Met prediction for July 8: Light sporadic rainfall
Reality: Heavy showers overnight, flooding in Central Mumbai and suburbs, trains, air services
disrupted

Met prediction for July 9: Heavy rain spells, thundershowers, as trough exists along the west coast
Reality: Figure it out, today

As the Met department's rain forecast for the city went wrong for the second consecutive week, numerologist Sanjay B Jumaani said, "Nobody is God to predict the rainfall, but why not trust the stars." He claims that Mumbaikars should be wary of the dates 4 and 8.

"It rained heavily on July 4 and also on the early morning of July 8," added Jumaani.

Never accurate

Meanwhile, astrologer Bejan Daruwala said it was unfair to blame the weathermen.

"I laugh when my predictions go wrong. So, I will laugh at their forecast as well," he said.

He informed that it was very difficult to be 100 per cent accurate on rain forecasts, as Mercury, sun, Neptune and the moon governed the weather.

However, he has predicted good rainfall in Mumbai during the next three weeks. "Take it easy India, take it easy Mumbai," added Daruwala.

Soon, no rains

On the other hand, tarot card reader Mayuri Sharma claimed that the MET department's prediction was right. "The tarot cards say that rainfall will be erratic and that is what is happening," said Sharma.
u00a0
"It's pure Karmic Retribution, which translates to global warming." Her cards say that the abuse of nature will hamper good rainfall. It is possible that after five to six years, there may be no rainfall at all.

"Rainfall has become like a woman's nature: very temperamental and unpredictable," added Sharma.

Vyash Pandey, head of the MET department at Gujarat's Anand Agricultural University, which has India's only astro-meteorological research centre on rainfall pattern, said, "Monsoon prediction for a single station is not possible.

Also, Mumbai weather is influenced by the coast and the Western Ghats."u00a0So far, the predictions have been 70 per cent accurate.

A Met official said, "What have stars got to do with the monsoons." After the recent rain spells, Sati Devi, director, Mumbai Meteorological Bureau, has stated that the rains would continue over the next few days.

Rain check

73.7 mm rainfall recorded in south Mumbai yesterday
32.2 mm rainfall recorded in suburban Mumbai yesterday